(Newser)
–
Hillary Clinton strategist Mark Penn is kicking himself in the wake of reports that Elizabeth Edwards thinks her husband shouldn't have run for president, ABC News reports. If news of John Edwards' infidelity had forced him to drop out of the race, Penn said, “No question in my mind, it would have been a very different race.”

"Most likely it would have been a two-way race"—Clinton-Obama—said Penn. He noted that Edwards’ strong showing in the first Iowa caucus siphoned off votes from Clinton and shattered the image of her as the “inevitable” candidate. “If Edwards would have dropped out there would have been a real contest for those votes," said Penn. "I think a lot of voters would have taken a good fresh look at Hillary Clinton.”

John McCain did more damage to his own presidential hopes by choosing Sarah Palin, than any damage Edwards' might have done to Hillary Clinton's by dropping out. A more important factor to her losing to Obama was her less-than-effective staff, as indicated by Hillary firing her campaign manager, Patti Solis Doyle, in early February, 2008, following four straight losses to Obama in December 2007, while Edwards was still in the race. At least that's my story!

oldgoat

May 2, 2009 8:54 AM CDT

Maybe it would have changed things and maybe not. If it was known why Edwards didn't run or dropped out, and it would have come out sooner than later, it could have also meant that people would be reminded of the Bill and Monica scandal and not wanted to go there. Hindsight can be a help but it also can't be a absolute.